“economics trumped environment.”

Labour budget for 2019 is focused on our ‘wellbeing’ HB/Gisborne now need regional rail promised to us in 2013 claimed in this 2013 NZ Herald press release by Labour/Greens..
https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10860706

Labour, Greens pledge to reinstate Gisborne rail line
By Phillipa Webb of the Gisborne Herald
5:31 PM Tuesday Jan 22, 2013

We have had a property in (Pirimai) Napier since 1974, we’ve raised our family there and we’re now into the third generation there.

I have been Chairperson of the Pirimai Residents Association and that was when I originally came into the issues here when the Kennedy Road overbridge was built.

I wanted to just give you a few facts, it won’t take me long, about the Expressway.

It was originally designed as a commuter route from Hastings to the Airport, not as a truck route; trucks weren’t even in the picture then because of road freight regulations and most of it went on rail.

Since deregulation in 1983 road traffic has increased considerably everywhere and the Expressway is being developed as the heavy traffic route to the Port of Napier because the other areas of Napier didn’t want it.

Port traffic has doubled over the last 10 years, and according to your figures it’s 25% in the last 2 years, and is forecast to increase by another 57% by 2028.

Hastings boasts ‘the Expressway allows heavy traffic to Port of Napier to avoid travelling through too much of the Hastings urban area’. Napier is not so lucky, the Expressway passes right through the western suburban communities,

As I said, I became involved through the Pirimai Residents Association, but it affects parts of Taradale, Greenmeadows, Tamatea and Ahuriri; each have individual problems, we don’t all have the same ones, but it’s basically the same cause.

Unfortunately, during this time, the focus has become more on economic performance and less on environmental and social wellbeing, and the lack of mitigation will continue to impact on the health, wellbeing and property values of those living alongside.

The Kennedy Road overbridge was built to carry heavy traffic over the top of local roads, which is the opposite to what happens in other parts of the world – they put the heavy traffic on the level, and local roads over the top. Economics trumped environment here, it was the cheaper option.

The Kennedy Road over bridge has only the basic guard rails rather than concrete barriers that are used on the Meeanee Road overbridge and any other bridge we’ve noticed in our travels around this part of the country. Again, “economics trumped environment.”

The expansion of the Port will only increase the problem as no consideration is given to the adverse effects created by the increase of heavy traffic, The Port have basically said that they are responsible for Port noise, but they are not responsible for the traffic going to and from the port.

Any privatisation of the Port will increase the focus on economic performance to the detriment of the environmental and social impacts. Who is minding the gate? We have made submissions to City Council,

Regional Council, Land Transport Committee, NZTA, but no one has the power or the inclination to resolve the issues.

I have to give credit to Alan here, who’s always let us speak before the Transport Committee, he’s tried to encourage NZTA to step up to the plate, but it doesn’t happen.

Hawkes Bay regional Council motto used to be ‘protecting your environment’, now it is ‘grow Hawkes Bay’.

Hawkes Bay Regional Council has to protect the residents and their environment when making its decision.

We need to be consulted and resolve some mitigation for the increases in the traffic and noise vibration and pollution issues and find a solution as to what can be done to help.

Janet Crispin
Treasurer of Citizens Environmental Advocacy Centre. (CEAC)

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